ROLAND VT-4 (01) PDF Document

After making connections correctly, turn on the power in the order of the ROLAND VT-4 first, followed by connected devices.

When turning the power off, do so in the order of the connected devices first, followed by the ROLAND VT-4.

[VOLUME] knob: Adjusts the volume of the LINE OUT jacks and the PHONES jack.

[MIC SENS] knob: Adjusts the input sensitivity of the mic connected to the MIC IN jacks (front/rear).

PEAK indicator: Lights if the mic input level is excessive. Use the [MIC SENS] knob to adjust the sensitivity so that this indicator lights occasionally.

[ROBOT] button: Transforms your voice into that of a robot, with a fixed pitch and an expressionless character.

[MEGAPHONE] button: Gives your voice a distorted character as if you were speaking through a megaphone.

[MANUAL] button: Applies the current settings of the sliders and the [AUTO PITCH] knob to the sound.

[BYPASS] button: Disables the effects (including reverb).

[KEY] knob: Specifies the key used when applying the effect of the [ROBOT] button or the [AUTO PITCH] knob.

[AUTO PITCH] knob: Corrects the pitch. This lets you constrain your vocal to the key specified by the [KEY] knob. The amount of correction increases as you turn the knob toward the right. If this is “OFF,” correction is not applied.

[VOCODER] button: Transforms the sound into a vocoder voice.

[HARMONY] button: Adds harmony to your voice.

[PITCH] slider: Adjusts the pitch of the voice within a range of 1 octave up or down.

[FORMANT] slider: Adjusts the formant. Negative (“-”) settings produce a masculine character; positive (“+”) produce a feminine character.

[BALANCE] slider: Adjusts the balance between the unprocessed voice (NORMAL) and the effect-processed voice (EFFECT).

[REVERB] slider: Adjusts the amount of reverberation.

You can connect a microphone to either the front or rear MIC IN jack:

MIC IN jack (front): Connect a mic that is compatible with plug-in power (sold separately). This is only for use with a mic that is compatible with plug-in power.

MIC IN jack (rear): Connect a mic (sold separately) here. If a condenser mic is connected to the XLR connector, phantom power can be supplied.

Note: When inputting voice into the mic, input the voice of only one person. If multiple voices are input, the effect won’t work correctly.

Turn the [PHANTOM] switch to “ON” if you want phantom power to be supplied to the MIC IN jack (rear). This is typically necessary if you connect a condenser mic to the MIC IN jack (rear) via an XLR connector.

Note: Phantom power is not supplied to the TRS phone plug.

Applying an Effect:

1. Connect your mic to the MIC IN jack.

2. Turn the [BYPASS] button on.

3. While vocalizing into the mic, use the [MIC SENS] knob to adjust the input sensitivity so the PEAK indicator lights occasionally.

4. Press a scene memory button to recall a scene, or turn the [BYPASS] button off to use current settings.

5. Vocalize into the mic.

Editing the Effect:

1. Press the [MANUAL] button.

2. Use the controllers (buttons, knobs, sliders) to edit the effect settings.

3. To select an effect variation, hold down an effect button and press a scene memory button.

4. As necessary, save the effect settings in a scene memory button.

You can specify the key that is used when applying an effect with the [ROBOT] button or the [AUTO PITCH] knob by turning the [KEY] knob to the desired note.

To specify a minor scale, turn the knob three clicks to the right from the desired key indication. For example, if you want to set the key to “Am,” turn the knob three clicks to the right from the “A” position, setting it to the “C” position.

You can use note messages input via the MIDI IN connector to play the robot voice, vocoder voice, or generate harmony notes.

1. Connect a MIDI keyboard or other MIDI device to the MIDI IN connector.

2. While inputting note messages from the MIDI device, vocalize into the mic. The ROLAND VT-4 switches to robot voice (the [ROBOT] button is lit), and the robot voice is sounded by the incoming note messages.

3. If you want to add harmony, turn the [HARMONY] button on, and input your voice. Up to four notes of harmony are heard based on the note messages that are input.

4. If you want to perform with a vocoder voice, turn the [VOCODER] button on, and input your voice.

Note: The settings of the [KEY] knob and the [AUTO PITCH] knob are ignored if note messages are being input.

Recalling a Scene: Press the scene memory [1]–[4] button that you want to recall. To recall scenes 5–8, hold down the [MANUAL] button and press a scene memory [1]–[4] button.

Saving a Scene: Use the controllers to adjust the effect. Hold down the scene memory [1]–[4] button in which you want to save the scene. When saved, all scene memory buttons change from blinking to unlit. To save to scenes 5-8, hold down the [MANUAL] button and hold down the desired scene memory [1]-[4] button.

Copying a Scene: Press a scene memory [1]–[4] button to recall the scene you want to copy. Hold down the copy-destination scene memory [1]–[4] button. When copied, all scene memory buttons change from blinking to unlit.

1. Hold down the [MANUAL] button and press the [VOCODER] button (keep holding down the [MANUAL] button). The scene memory [1]–[4] buttons light.

2. Continuing to hold down the [MANUAL] button, press one of the memory [1]–[4] buttons to set the noise gate.

Higher-numbered scene memory [1]–[4] buttons apply the noise gate effect more strongly.

You can make low cut filter settings to prevent the ROLAND VT-4 from unintentionally producing sound in response to low-frequency sounds nearby.

1. Hold down the [MANUAL] button and press the [HARMONY] button (keep holding down the [MANUAL] button). The scene memory [1]–[4] buttons light.

2. Continuing to hold down the [MANUAL] button, press one of the scene memory [1]–[4] buttons to set the low cut filter.

Higher-numbered scene memory [1]–[4] buttons specify a higher frequency below which the sound is cut.

By applying the enhancer effect, you can improve the clarity of the high-frequency region.

1. Hold down the [MANUAL] button and press the [MEGAPHONE] button (keep holding down the [MANUAL] button). The scene memory [1]–[4] buttons light.

2. Continuing to hold down the [MANUAL] button, press one of the memory [1]–[4] buttons to set the enhancer.

Higher-numbered scene memory [1]–[4] buttons apply the enhancer effect more strongly.

By using a commercially available USB 2.0 cable to connect the ROLAND VT-4 to your computer, you can use it as a USB audio interface. You must install the USB driver from the Roland website before connecting.

Playback Routes:

• OUT (1–2): Output from the LINE OUT jacks and PHONES jack (no effect is applied).
• TO MIC IN (3–4): Output from the VT-4 as sound that’s input from the MIC IN jack.
• TO CARRIER (5–6): The sound of an external synthesizer that’s input to “TO CARRIER” of the USB port can be used as the signal (tonality and pitch) that is the basis of the vocoder voice.

Recording Routes:

• MIX (1–2): The sound of the LINE OUT jacks is input.
• WET (3–4): The effect-processed sound is input.
• DRY (5–6): The sound before being effect-processed is input.

1. Turn on the power while holding down the [ROBOT] button. The [MANUAL] button blinks.

2. Turn the [KEY] knob to select the parameter you want to set.

3. Edit the setting: Press [HARMONY] to increase value/turn On; Press [VOCODER] to decrease value/turn Off.

4. Press the [MANUAL] button to save the settings.

Backing up:

1. With the ROLAND VT-4 powered-off, connect it to your computer via a USB cable.

2. While holding down the [VOCODER] button, turn the power on.

3. On your computer, open the “VT-4” drive.

4. From inside the BACKUP folder, copy the backup files (VT4_PATCH1.PRM to VT4_PATCH8.PRM) to your computer.

5. Disconnect the USB drive safely and restart the unit.

Restoring:

1. Follow steps 1-3 from “Backing up”.

2. Copy the backup files from your computer into the RESTORE folder on the “VT-4” drive.

3. Disconnect the USB drive safely.

4. Press the [MANUAL] button.

5. When the blinking button goes dark, turn the power off and then on again.

1. While holding down the [BYPASS] button, turn the power on. The [MANUAL] button blinks.

2. Press the [MANUAL] button to execute factory reset.

3. When all buttons blink, turn the power off and on again.

If connected to a USB port that does not support USB bus power (e.g., AIRA LINK), you can use battery-powered mode.

1. While holding down the [HARMONY] button, turn the power on.

To return to usual mode, turn the power off and on again.

You can hold down an effect button and press a scene memory button (1-4) to select these variations:

1. Remove the battery cover on the bottom of the unit.

2. Taking care to observe the correct orientation, insert AA nickel-metal hydride or alkaline batteries into the battery case.

3. Close the battery cover.

Note: When the batteries run low, the PEAK indicator blinks rapidly.

Power Supply: Rechargeable Ni-MH Battery (AA, HR6) x 4, Alkaline (AA, LR6) x 4, or obtained via USB port (USB bus power).

Current Draw: 500 mA.

Dimensions: 174 (W) x 133 (D) x 58 (H) mm / 6-7/8 (W) x 5-1/4 (D) x 2-5/16 (H) inches.

Weight (including batteries): 554 g / 1 lb 4 oz.